News: Full Festival Lineup Available For The 42nd Annual Atlanta Film Festival

With a record 7,600 film submissions received for the 2018 festival, the final lineup includes 58 feature length films and 150 short films from 56 countries –making this year’s film festival the most diverse, by number of countries represented, and the largest, by number of films, in Atlanta history. The ten-day event takes place from Friday, April 13–Sunday, April 22, 2018 and will be highlighted with Opening and Closing Night presentations and galas, 10 Marquee screenings events, Creative Conference events and additional Special Presentations and events. Tickets are now available for purchase at www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com. Now in its fifth decade, this Academy Award-qualifying festival is one of the region’s largest and longest-running preeminent celebrations of cinema in the Southeast United States. More than 25,000 festival attendees enjoy independent, animated, documentary and short films each year, selected from more than 7,600 submissions from 120 countries.

Tickets for individual screenings are $10 in advance and will go on sale beginning in March. Prices for festival passes range from $75 for basic membership to $350 for an All-Access Pass. A Producer’s Pass is also available for exclusive access to festival screenings, educational programming and parties for $750. You can check out the full schedule here. Some of the highlights are the screenings below.

Friday, April 13, 2018–OPENING NIGHT BLINDSPOTTINGThe Plaza Theatre1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta GACollin (Daveed Diggs) must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning. He and his troublemaking childhood best friend, Miles (Rafael Casal), work as movers and are forced to watch their old neighborhood become a trendy spot in the rapidly gentrifying Bay Area. When a life-altering event causes Collin to miss his mandatory curfew, the two men struggle to maintain their friendship as the changing social landscape exposes their differences.Lifelong friends Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal co-wrote and star in this timely and wildly entertaining story about friendship and the intersection of race and class set against the backdrop of Oakland. Bursting with energy, style and humor, “Blindspotting,” boldly directed by Carlos López Estrada in his feature film debut, is a provocative hometown love letter that glistens with humanitySunday, April 15, 2018–MARQUEE SCREENING TULLYThe Plaza Theatre1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta GAA new comedy from Academy Award-nominated director Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno). Marlo (Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron), a mother of three including a newborn, is gifted a night nanny by her brother (Mark Duplass). Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis).Monday, April 16, 2018 –MARQUEE SCREENINGPRISON LOGICThe Plaza Theatre1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta GATwo college students film a documentary on larger-than-life, chain-smoking inmate Tijuana Jackson, who is currently serving time in prison. After he is released, Tijuana arrives back home where he is met with the demands of both his family and his parole officer. He leaves home and embarks on a road trip to follow his dreams of becoming a life coach and motivational speaker, but is met with some surprises along the way.Friday, April 20, 2018–MARQUEE SCREENING HEARTS BEAT LOUDThe Plaza Theatre 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta GAFrank (Nick Offerman) and his daughter Sam (Kiersey Clemons) form a songwriting duo shortly before she leaves for college. As they grow closer through their music, Frank must come to terms with letting go of his daughter. Toni Collette, Ted Danson, Sasha Lane and Blythe Danner also star.Saturday, April 21, 2018–CLOSING NIGHT Screening:EIGHTH GRADEThe Plaza Theatre 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta GAThirteen-year-old Kayla endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school—the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year—before she begins high school.